Automobile-towing device



L. W. ELEYET, G. L. EWING, H. E. MAHAN AND V. R. ELEYET. AUTOMOBILE TOWING DEVICE.

APPLICATION HLED SEPT.29. 19.9.

1,362,404. Patented Dec. 14,1920.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEVI W. ELEYET, GEORGE L. EWING, HOWARD E. MAI-IAN, AND VERNON R. ELEYET,

OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, OHIO.

AUTOMOBILE-TOWING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 14, 1920.

Application filed september 29, 1919. Serial No. 327,096.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, Lnvr W. ELnYn'r, GEORGE L. EWING, HOWARD E. MAHAN, and VERNON R. ELEYET, citizens of the United States, residing at New Hampshire, in the county of Auglaize. State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automobile-Towing Devices; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in towing devices and particularly to devices for towing automobiles.

One object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved device of this character whereby the connection between the towing car and the towed car can be accomplished with ease and quickness.

Another object is to provide a novel and improved means for coupling a towed and towing cars together whereby the towed car will be automatically steered without the necessity of a person having to hold the wheel or in fact without the necessity of any occupant of the towed car.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of the front portion f the running gear of the towed car and the rear portion of the towing car, the invention being shown applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the clip which connects the auxiliary steering rod to the steering arms of the knuckles of the towed car.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the clip for the front axle of the towed car, showing the means for pivotally connecting the towing rod.

Referring particularly to the accompanying drawing, 10 represents the rear axle of the car which is to perform the act of towing 11 the differential casing thereon, 12 the front axle of the towed car, and 13 the arms of the steering knuckles to which the steering rod is connected, all of which are used in connection With the present invention.

A. yoke 14 has a pair ofparallel arms 15 on the outer ends of which are formed the clips 16 which are engaged with the rear axle 10 on opposite sides of the casing 11. Rigidly connected to the center of the yoke is the forward end of the draft or towing rod 16". The rear end of this rod is detachably connected with the forward end of a second rod 17 by means of the bolts 18. A turn-buckle 14: is disposed in the intermediateportion of the rod 14.

Disposed in parallel relation to the stee1= ing rod of the towed automobile is a transversely extending rod 19, and on each end of this rod there is mounted a clamp 20, shown in detail in Fig. 41, each of said clamps being pivotally connected to the rod and engaged with an arm 13 of a steering knuckle. The rear end of the rod 17 is pivotally connected to the center of the rod 19, as shown.

Disposed on the top of the center of the axle 12, and extending forwardly and rearwardly thereof, is a plate 20 the forward end having a bolt opening for the reception of the threaded stud 21 of the plate 22 which is disposed vertically in front of the axle. The rear end of the plate 20' is formed with a slot 23 for the reception of the stud 24 formed on the upper end of the vertical portion of the L-shaped plate which engages with the rear and bottom portions of the axle. The outer end of the horizontal portion of the L-shaped plate has a stud 25 which is received through the lower end of the ver-v tical front plate 22. A tail nut 26 is engaged on the last-named stud, as seen in the drawing. Forming a part of the plate 20, and extending vertically from the center thereof, is a stud 27 which passes through the rear end of the rod 17, whereby said rod is pivotally connected to said plate.

Each of the clips or clamps 20 includes a pair of curved members A and B arranged to engage above and below the arm 13, the member A having a series of notches 28 in its upper end portion for the reception of the bight portions of the stirrup 29 pivotally carried by the angle lever 30. This angle lever has its shorter arm pivotally connected to one end of a leaf spring 31 which is attached to the lower face of the other member B.

It will thus be seen that when the towing car makes a turn the towing rod will rock on its pivot 27 and cause the longitudinal movement of the auxiliary steering rod with the a a towing rod having means for connecting with a towing automobile, means for pivotally connecting the rod to the front axle of a towed automobile, rod adapted to be disposed in parallel'relation'to the tie rod of the steering mechanismof a towedautomo- "bile, the opposite ends of the said rod each having a bowed jaw pivotally connected thereto, a second bowedjaw pivotally connected to the first jaw, a leaf spring secured at one end to the first jaw, a lever pivotally carried by the other end of the spring, and a loop carried by the lever for straddling engagement with the second jaw, said jaws being arranged for embracing engagement with the arm of the steering knuckle of an automobile, and pivotal connections between the towing rod and the said transverse rod.

Intestimony whereof, we affix our signatures, in the presence of two witnesses.

LEVI WV. ELEYET. V GEORGE L. ENVING.

HOl/VARD E. MAHAN. VERNON R. ELEYET.

l/Vitnesses: HARRY A. ELEYET, J OHN R. OORDRAY. 

